Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet will consider new proposals regarding the council’s interest in St Stephen’s Multi-Storey Car Park in Trowbridge, which aims to remove a significant financial liability for the council while supporting future regeneration opportunities in the town centre.

A report due to be discussed at Cabinet on 15 July sets out the current position of the St Stephen’s Place Multi-Storey Car Park, which was built in 1973 and is now approaching the end of its original design life. A binding Deed of Covenant prohibits the charging for parking by the council at the car park.

Independent structural assessments have identified ongoing deterioration, with recent repair works providing only a short-term extension to the operational life of the structure.

The council’s Cabinet is being asked to consider a revised agreement for the car park. Cabinet originally agreed to transfer the freehold of the car park to the owner of Castle Place Shopping Centre in October 2025, but the capital financing required was not subsequently approved by Full Council.

The revised proposal would still involve transfer of responsibility for the ageing car park to the shopping centre owner, removing the need for the council to fund significant future maintenance, refurbishment or demolition costs.

An alternative option would be to retain the car park. However, this would require demolition and reconstruction at some point in the future, at a cost likely to run into several million pounds.

The council has also published a structural report for the car park, undertaken after the recent works completed in January 2026. Originally the report was subject to a confidentiality clause, which meant it could not be published. However, the council later requested an updated report from its contractor for public release, with additional information included. The report states that the serviceable life of the structure could be extended by 10 to 15 years, but only if the council undertakes further works costing between £3.5m and £5m over the next two to five years.

A transfer of the freehold is considered the best financial option for the council, given that retaining the site would require a minimum investment of £3.5m, and even more money would need to be found when the building comes to the end of its life.

In recent months, discussions have taken place between the relevant Cabinet Member and leaders of the political groups to keep them updated on the situation.

Under the proposals, the council would provide a staged payment package and secure an overage agreement, which means that the council would benefit from any future increase in land value arising from redevelopment opportunities.

As part of its 2026/27 budget-setting process, the council approved a capital allocation for the site for repairs and maintenance. Cabinet are being asked to note that these funds be utilised to be used to facilitate the transfer, which would also generate a capital saving.

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “The multi-storey car park is nearing the end of its life and continuing to retain it would expose the council to substantial future liabilities and costs – and that’s a risk we’re not willing to take.

“We appreciate that some people have strong feelings about the car park, but spending millions of pounds on an ageing structure, with no realistic prospect of recouping that investment, is not a sensible approach given the challenging financial climate all councils are facing.

“This proposal provides an opportunity to remove that long-term financial burden from Wiltshire taxpayers while supporting future investment and regeneration in Trowbridge town centre.

“We have engaged with Group Leaders and I thank them for their input. I hope they understand the challenging circumstances and the very limited options available to us – we either spend this money now and secure the future of the site, or we spend significantly more money in the coming years to keep the car park open, but we are then faced with the same issue in several years’ time, when costs will have increased even further.

“The revised proposals include new payment provisions and safeguards should redevelopment not proceed.

“We carefully budgeted some funding for St Stephen’s as part of the approved 2026/27 budget-setting process, and we strongly believe that failing to make a decision now will only increase costs while the situation remains unresolved.”

The proposed disposal forms part of Wiltshire Council’s wider Asset Management Strategy, which aims to ensure council assets deliver the greatest benefit for residents while supporting the council’s financial sustainability and regeneration ambitions.

Cabinet will consider the report at its meeting on 15 July. To read the papers, people should go to: Meeting – Democratic Services – Wiltshire Council